Jenn McGroary

Multi-Pillar Marketing, LLC

  • About
  • Work with Jenn
  • Portfolio
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

Keeping track of your time using Toggl

Written by Jenn Leave a Comment

As a small business owner, it is important that I track my time so I know

A) how long I’m working on non-billable tasks each week and
B) to properly bill my clients for work completed (those 10 – 15 min jobs really do add up!)

I’ve tried many methods of time tracking over the years – pen/paper, excel spreadsheets, the timer app in Quickbooks. All have their ups & downs and they only work when you remember to use them.

Keeping track of your time using TogglOne of the tools I came across last year and fell in love with was an application called Toggl.

Here’s a breakdown of why I love it and why it works for me.

Multiple Platforms

Toggl is available as a web-based solution, a desktop app or a mobile app. So I have the desktop app running on my work laptop as well as my iPod touch. I use the web-based solution to run/print reports.

Keeping track of time

Auto Syncing

Regardless of which platform you’re using, the time entries auto sync with each other as long as you’re connected to the internet.

Online/Offline Capabilities

Using any of the platforms, you can use the app online or offline. It will sync your times as soon as you reconnect to the internet. For most of my projects I use the desktop app that way I don’t have to worry about opening my browser and getting sucked into social media wormholes. This is great for working on design projects and writing. Helps keep me focused.

When I’m not at my computer or if I’m out meeting with a client, it’s easy to pop open the app on my iPod and start recording our meeting time. No more forgetting to add it to my timesheet because it’s not with me!

Easy of Use

This app is seriously easy to use. All platforms operate the exact same way so adding clients and projects as well as inputting your times are super easy. Once you add a client or project, it’s there for you to reuse again when needed. Just select it from the list add a quick description of what you’re working on and hit the start button.

When you’re done or ready to switch to another project, just hit the stop button and select a new project. Since you can only work on one project at a time, it forces you to stay focused on the task until you’re ready to move on to the next one.

Tracking time with Toggl

Great Reports

Running reports are now fun for me. I get a total of all hours logged and a breakdown for each project. To help me manage my non-billable hours, I’ve set my business up as a client/project that way I can track my time. This includes things such as bookkeeping, email, social media time, blog posts, etc.

When I run my weekly reports, I can then just subtract my project time against the total hours so I can get an accurate count of how productive I’ve been that week.

time tracking

Cost

Best part of all, the basic account is free!

The paid version adds functionality to set billing rates per customer/project so you’ll know how profitable you are, create a hierarchy of tasks, allow larger teams to access the same data, integration with many other apps such as Basecamp and Freshbooks, plus a couple of other features.

I’ve been using Toggl for over a year now and I haven’t needed to graduate to the paid version.

However, should you need to upgrade to the paid version, it’s only going to set you back $5 a month per user. Even if you had a couple of people on your team or you needed the additional functionality, it’s still a super reasonable investment.

So final notes: Like any time tracking app, it only works when you use it, but Toggl makes it fun and easy to keep track of those multiple projects you’re bouncing around doing every day as an entrepreneur. Like I’d mentioned, those 5-10 min. jobs do add up over the course of the week/month. Make sure you’re billing your clients appropriately!

So what’s the time tracking method that works for you? Are you old-school with the pen and paper or do you go high-tech and rely on apps to keep you on task? Also if you’ve used Toggl before, what do you like/not like about it? Share with us in the comment box below, I’d love to know.

Filed Under: Managing Your Business Tagged With: time tracking

About Jenn

Jenn simplifies online marketing & website development for service-based business owners.
She is also the author of: Online Marketing Simplified: The Beginner’s Guide to Using the Internet to Market Your Local Business.
When she's not busy working, she enjoys reading, riding horses & playing with her 3 boys.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Following your gut…
  • Time to plan for next year
  • Keeping track of your time using Toggl
  • The question I get asked most often… How much will the website cost?
  • The importance of having mentors and coaches [Video]

Search This Site

Categories

Giving is Living!

I donate a percentage of all of my project fees towards helping women entrepreneurs in other countries.

You can help. Click the logo above to see some of these amazing women and you can learn how to start donating too!

What my clients say…

"Jenn offers the kind of support that inspires great things. With her supportive coaching and instruction in easy to understand terms, I was able to get my service launched fast and easy. She is available when needed and always offers a helpful hand when required. I highly recommend Jenn McGroary if you’re seeking a professional who consistently offers quality service.”
Ava Colonna
NoPlaceLikeMyHouse.com

Important Info

  • Resources
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy

About Jenn

Wife, mom to 3 wild and crazy boys, dark chocolate lover, entrepreneur, marketing strategist/web developer and author of Online Marketing Simplified: The Beginner’s Guide to Using the Internet to Market Your Local Business

WDD Web Designers

Contact Me

Multi-Pillar Marketing, LLC
580 Center Rd.
Woodstock, CT 06281
P: 860-578-4870
F: 866-493-4130

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Copyright © 1999 - Present · Jenn McGroary ~ Multi-Pillar Marketing, LLC · All rights reserved
"Love Your Business Again Coaching Club", "Love Your Website Again Video Training Course" and "Website Go To Girl" are all trademarks of Multi-Pillar Marketing, LLC ·
Photography by Sharon Korsu of Creative Images 4